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As we look forward to the 2026-27 season, it’s fun to instead take a step back and look at the long history of the Sabres. There are some fun things to explore where one thing can change the trajectory of an entire franchise.
We’ve already pondered what might have happened if the franchise never traded for the legendary Dominik Hasek. Another 1990s “What if?” that really bears talking about: what if Pat Lafontaine didn’t have a litany of injuries that ultimately cut his career short?
Lafontaine as a Sabre
Lafontaine came to the Sabres ahead of the 1991-92 season in a blockbuster trade with the New York Islanders for former No.1 overall pick Pierre Turgeon. Lafontaine had already established himself as a star, hitting career bests just two seasons prior with 54 goals and 105 points.
The minute he became a Sabre, Lafontaine became an offensive powerhouse. In just 57 games his first season, he scored 46 goals and registered 93 points. In 1992-93, he and Alexander Mogilny found unmatched chemistry. Mogilny scored 76 goals while Lafontaine finished second in league scoring with 148 points.
Lafontaine would battle through injuries for much of his time in Buffalo, though he did flash that same offensive brilliance during the 1995-96 season. Appearing in 76 games, Lafontaine scored 40 goals and racked up 91 points, showing himself to still be a top-flight center.
Injuries altered the course of center's career
Unfortunately for Lafontaine, the story of his career cannot be told without mentioning the plethora of injuries. A broken jaw his first season limited him to 57 games. A knee injury stole all but 16 games of the 1993-94 season.
It would be concussions, however, that would ultimately lead to a premature end to his career. At the beginning of the 1996-97 season, Lafontaine — who had already sustained undocumented concussions — took a nasty hit from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Francois Leroux. His head would hit the ice in the process, leading to severe post-concussion syndrome.
Lafontaine would miss all but 13 games that season and would be urged by the team to retire at 31 years old. After deciding that Lafontaine would continue his career, he would be traded to the New York Rangers. After a solid 1997-98 season, Lafontaine would finally heed those recommendations and hang up his skates.
The Sabres are more serious contenders with Lafontaine in the lineup
The Sabres in the latter half of the 1990s became known as a defensive team with the best goaltender in the world. Ownership was facing monetary challenges, leading to them trading Mogilny to the Vancouver Canucks (they did get Michael Peca in return).
For the sake of this argument, let’s assume they could keep Lafontaine signed. He would give them a legitimate No.1 center — something they really wouldn’t address until Daniel Briere occupied that spot.
Lafontaine would be just hitting his 30s, with anywhere from 5-7 good years left him. Perhaps Lafontaine’s offense is enough to help get the Sabres over the hump in the playoffs. What would the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals had looked like with a 34-year-old Lafontaine still lighting the lamp?
Another tough story for a Buffalo franchise full of them
Given the Sabres of the late-90s were close to a Stanley Cup, it isn’t inconceivable to think that a healthy Lafontaine could have put them over the top. Instead, he retired early and became both a cautionary tale and an advocate for stronger concussion research.
If anything, it is just another tale in a long line of unfortunate events for the city of Buffalo. During a time when the Bills were kings of the city, Lafontaine kept fans on their feet as part of one of the most electrifying duos in NHL history.
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This article was originally published on sabrenoise.com as Pat LaFontaine's injury issues are one of the biggest 'What Ifs' in Sabres history.
